Need Win 7 Pro with SPck1 or higher ISO
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Markverhyden
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Except those types of machines often have hardware license dongles on them to prevent piracy. Many times those ports cannot be properly presented to the dongle.... with a W7 VM
Sky-Knight
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That's why things like this exist:
"USB Over Ethernet" -extender on a google search.
Yes... it's expensive. But that's the price you pay for being stupid and not modernizing your junk.
And you don't want to know how many of these I've put out to keep "Windows XP / 7" running as a VM on a modern machine to fuel HVAC systems or other industrial setups. It's good money!
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britechguy
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I find these two statements at complete odds with one another, due to both the nature of "the junk" and the fact that those using said HVAC systems or other industrial setups, which can cost 6 figures at a minimum, often 7 or 8, have no options to do otherwise. Many of those setups have never, ever had software updates issued by the companies that made that equipment. I've seen that and it's completely unreasonable to believe that any business is being stupid for not wanting to incur a major outlay for fully functional equipment that likely will run for decades.
If ever there were a place where workarounds, be they by having actual Windows XP/7 machines or VMs, to run this stuff were fully justified, this is it!
NviGate Systems
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CNC Shops as well, I once sold 4 older HP XP machines as backups, all they need technically is a DOS prompt and LPT Port to issue commands.
The other benefit with older machines is they were "Built Different" Good luck finding a modern replacement that has the same design ethos as older machines that were built to last.
Case in point is YouTuber Big Clive, he had a video about an old elevator that was replaced, this elevator was really old, but damn reliable. He did a teardown of the control panel he got his hands on. Of course, the new elevator breaks down like clockwork.
britechguy
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@NviGate Systems
There are scads of really old (as in pre-computer age old) machines and tools that will probably keep running and doing what they do for several additional lifetimes.
This is a band saw in my partner's wood shop:
And you want to talk about elevator technology that keeps on going, this is the freight elevator in his building that goes between the wood shop level and the level that abuts the train platform (the building dates from 1861, and was the flour warehouse for a milling complex): 112_S_New_Elevator.mp4
In 2014 I re-rigged the bullrope, which included weaving the ends together for the pull rope so it was a "circle" of rope. I had a professional do the work putting the metal eye and hook back on for the actual rope that carries the elevator at one end, and the counterweight at the other. In the video, I had not yet put all the boards back on that cover the counterweight channel, so it got stuck, briefly, when it was coming up past the edge of the floorboards. Here are the eye hook on the car, the counterweight, and the main pulley and brake:
As you said, there are many "early era of PC control" CNC machines that will very likely do the same provided the PC side of the equation is provided, and any business that has this kind of equipment, that's way more durable than what's made now and will likely live several additional human lifetimes, would be insane to replace it just because the PC side it needs no longer exists as a new off-the-shelf item.
It's a worthy cottage industry, including among techs, doing what needs doing to keep this equipment alive.
There are scads of really old (as in pre-computer age old) machines and tools that will probably keep running and doing what they do for several additional lifetimes.
This is a band saw in my partner's wood shop:
And you want to talk about elevator technology that keeps on going, this is the freight elevator in his building that goes between the wood shop level and the level that abuts the train platform (the building dates from 1861, and was the flour warehouse for a milling complex): 112_S_New_Elevator.mp4
In 2014 I re-rigged the bullrope, which included weaving the ends together for the pull rope so it was a "circle" of rope. I had a professional do the work putting the metal eye and hook back on for the actual rope that carries the elevator at one end, and the counterweight at the other. In the video, I had not yet put all the boards back on that cover the counterweight channel, so it got stuck, briefly, when it was coming up past the edge of the floorboards. Here are the eye hook on the car, the counterweight, and the main pulley and brake:
As you said, there are many "early era of PC control" CNC machines that will very likely do the same provided the PC side of the equation is provided, and any business that has this kind of equipment, that's way more durable than what's made now and will likely live several additional human lifetimes, would be insane to replace it just because the PC side it needs no longer exists as a new off-the-shelf item.
It's a worthy cottage industry, including among techs, doing what needs doing to keep this equipment alive.
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